UPDATE: One killed, several injured as NURTW factions clash in Ondo

Members of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) in Ondo State engaged themselves in a free-for-all fight in Akure, the state capital, causing pandemonium as they used dangerous weapons to fight themselves.

The incident occurred in the early hours of Tuesday morning when some members of the factional group of the union invaded the Old Garage area of Akure and started shooting sporadically, killing a member of the union with two others injured.

The incident happened barely 48 hours after the factional group of the union clashed at Owode area of the state, injuring many people.

It was gathered that the drivers were fighting over management of parks even after the Ondo State government had ordered the suspension of driver’s unions activities in the state for two weeks.

Some passengers were said to have abandoned their vehicles and took to their heels as members of the drivers’ union freely used guns, charms and other dangerous weapons during the fight which started around 8am.

Some vehicles were said to have been destroyed by the warring factions while some motorists and commuters had to use alternative routes to get to their destinations.

Vehicular movement and business activities were suspended at the popular Oja Oba, Adesida Road, Fiwasaye and Old garage for hours.

According to an eyewitness, trouble started when a group of the transport union in the area allegedly attempted to take control of the garage at the Old Garage and tried to forcefully drive away the rival group who also put up a resistance.

He explained that the two rival groups were called to a meeting by the zonal leaders of the union in Osogbo on Monday following the fracas between the two rival groups on Sunday.

The leadership of the union resolved that the suspended group should be absorbed back into the union while the other group led by the State Chairman of NURTW, Jacob Adebo, opposed the decision.

He however said: “It was the decision of the zonal leadership of the union that other group should be absorbed and should resume at the garage after almost two years of suspension. But this morning some people from the chairman camp invaded the garage to drive them away.

“One of the drivers was shot died on the spot while two others sustained various degree of injuries and were rushed to the hospital.”

He listed the injured to include Akinyemi Bayo and Adeyemi Samuel but said Ademola Ademoyegun died instantly while his remains had been deposited at the morgue.

Some security operatives were drafted to the scene of the incident to restore normalcy in the area.

Confirming the incident, the State Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Tee Leo Ikoro, said there was a disruption of law and order in a part of the state capital.

Ikoro said some men of the state Police Command have been drafted to restore peace in the area while the investigation is ongoing to unravel and arrest those behind the uproar.

Meanwhile, the state government has declared indefinite suspension on all activities of the NURTW in the state, ordering members of the union to vacate motor parks across the state.

The Senior Special Assistant to the governor on Special Duties and Strategy, Dr Doyin Odebowale, who stated this while addressing newsmen said the decision became necessary following the unruly and uncultured behaviour of the union leaders in the state.

According to him, the action of the union leaders resulted in violent attacks on members and the innocent citizens of the state.

Adebowale, however, said that the indefinite suspension order will not affect members of the Road Transport Employers Association of Nigeria (RTEAN) who comported themselves in a peaceful manner.

The state government had earlier ordered the suspension of the activities of NURTW and RTEAN for two weeks over imminent power tussles among the union leaders, warning them against violence in any part of the state.

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